Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!ucsd!pacbell.com!att!cbnews!cbnews!military
From: yun@eng.umd.edu (Dragon Taunter)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: draft
Message-ID: <1990Nov16.052603.22130@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 16 Nov 90 05:26:03 GMT
References: <1990Nov14.010810.15256@cbnews.att.com>
Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker)
Organization: College of Engineering, Maryversity of Uniland, College Park
Lines: 31
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: yun@eng.umd.edu (Dragon Taunter)
In article <1990Nov14.010810.15256@cbnews.att.com> white_ca@lrc.uucp writes:

>From: white_ca@lrc.uucp
>My question is when a draft would be put into place to ensure troop
>strength if these inactive reserve troops are called into active duty and if
>the military and congress has any other alternitives to maintain troop
>strength?

Depends on if and how long the fighting lasts.  No doubt Bush and other
military planners are hoping for a quick and overwelming solution if
diplomancy fails so the question of a draft need not enter.

The draft is a political question.  Before any fighting starts, for Bush
to declare a draft is political suicide.  In strict terms of tactics and
logistics, one needs to rotate troops.  If combat does not commence soon
then that means that some of these forces would have been on station for
half a year come January or so.  Also, during peace time units are not
kept at combat strength levels and more personnel are need to fully
staff all positions.

Besides, who would you want to fight a harsh desert war?  Middle aged, out of
condition reservists or less experienced but younger men (this is _draft_
so no shouts of sexism please) in prime physical condition?  
--
	yun@wam.umd.edu		zwy0c@scfvm.gsfc.nasa.gov (code 926)
	yun@eng.umd.edu		zwy0c@charney.gsfc.nasa.gov
		5 hrs 10' 39" W     39 deg 2' 9.7" N
A milihelen is the amount of beauty required to launch one ship.